JP3073735U - Color sorter remote management device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Object] To provide a color sorter remote management device that can obtain setting data of a sorting reference value of a sorting material in a color sorter at a remote place and reset it. [Constitution] A color sorter for setting a sorting reference value of a sorting function element that is an element for sorting a sorting object such as cereals, and for determining whether or not a sorting object such as grains is to be used according to the set sorting reference value. A, and a selection reference remote management device including a remote control device B connected to the color selection device via a communication line, wherein the setting data of the selection reference value is monitored and stored.
1, 32, 33, a transmission / reception device 35 for transmitting the setting data to the remote control device and receiving the setting update data sent from the remote control device, and a selection reference value of a selection function element corresponding to the setting update data. And a control circuit 32 for resetting to the value of the setting update data.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a color sorter for sorting objects such as cereals and nuts, and more particularly to setting a sorting criterion value of a sorting function element which is an element for sorting a sorting object such as cereals, and the set sorting criterion. The present invention relates to a color sorter for identifying the quality of an object to be sorted such as cereals in accordance with a value, and a remote control device for a color sorter including a remote control device connected to the color sorter via a communication line.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 2. Description of the Related Art A color sorter is known as an apparatus for sorting non-defective products such as soybeans from a mixture of non-defective products and non-defective products (sorted products). This color sorter operates roughly as follows. The object to be sorted is supplied to the chute from the hopper and sequentially flows out into the space between the observation sections.Then, while passing through the observation section, the object to be sorted is irradiated with light, its reflected light is detected, and a detection signal is generated. This detection signal is amplified and compared with a reference voltage to determine the quality of the object to be sorted, whether it is defective or not, and if it is defective, it is blown off by an air gun.

[0003] In general, in a color sorter, when the materials to be sorted are different from each other, a sorting function element of the color sorter is reset so that a color sorting operation suitable for the sorted materials can be performed. There is a need. That is, as the sorting function elements, there are, for example, the supply amount of the sorting material supplied to the chute per hour, the brightness of the background of the observation unit, the amplification factor of the amplifier, the reference voltage of the comparator, the air pressure and the timing of the air gun, and the like. Since the sorting criteria for these sorting function elements vary depending on the type of sorting material, it is necessary to adjust the sorting function elements according to the sorting material.

On the other hand, the color sorter includes a sensor that detects a failure of each component of the color sorter including the sorting function element, for example, normality of lighting, proper air pressure, and abnormality due to overload of the power supply. It outputs a detection signal and indicates a fault condition.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 Since the above-mentioned color sorter is provided at the sorting site for raw materials, it is necessary to know the setting data of the sorting reference value of the currently selected raw materials, or to manually change the setting data, the color sorting machine. There was an inconvenience that workers would go directly to the installation location of the machine. In particular, it is only possible to know whether the current setting data of the color sorter is appropriate or whether any failures have occurred, only at the place where the color sorter is installed. There was a risk of severe damage. In addition, when the user who uses the color sorter is in a remote place, the manufacturer cannot grasp the current use state of the color sorter, and there is a problem that appropriate advice or countermeasures cannot be taken promptly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a color sorter remote which can obtain setting data at a remote place separated from the color sorter and can reset it to another appropriate update setting data transmitted from the remote place. It is to provide a management device.

[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a color sorter in which a detection signal or a status signal of a sensor of the color sorter can be obtained in a remote place remote from the color sorter, and appropriate measures can be taken promptly. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a remote management device.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The sorting reference remote management device of this invention monitors the setting data of the sorting reference value, and stores the setting data, transmits the setting data to the remote control device, and receives the setting update data sent from the remote control device. A transmission / reception device; and a control circuit for resetting a selection reference value of a selection function element corresponding to the setting update data to a value of the setting update data.

Further, the sorting reference remote management device of the present invention further includes a detecting means for detecting a failure state of the color sorter, and the control circuit transmits a failure detection signal to the remote control device.

Further, the sorting reference remote management device of the present invention includes a detecting means for detecting a status of the color sorter, and a transmitting device for transmitting a detected status signal to the remote control device.

[0011]

[Action]

 The sorting reference remote management device of the present invention can transmit the setting data of the sorting reference value of the color sorter to the remote control device as needed, and also receives the setting update request data from the remote control device and sends the value. The sorting reference value can be reset. Also, the status signal or the failure detection signal of each component detected by the color sorter can be transmitted to the remote control device.

[0012]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a color sorter. In the same figure, a hopper 1 is placed with a sortable material such as soybeans. The objects to be sorted in the hopper 1 are sent to the vibration feeder 2, where vibration energy is given to the objects to be sorted, and an amount of the objects to be sorted in proportion to the vibration intensity is sequentially supplied to the chute 3. That is, the supply amount of the sorting object to the chute 3 per time is adjusted by the vibration intensity of the vibration feeder 2. The objects to be sorted down the chute 3 are sequentially ejected and passed into the space of the observation section. The observation unit includes a light source 4 and a back plate 5 for adjusting the brightness of the background of the sorting object, light sources 6 and 7 for irradiating light to each sorting object, and a lens that reflects light reflected from the sorting object. 8, optical sensors 11a and 11b for receiving light sequentially through the slit 9 and the filters 10a and 10b are provided. The filters 10a and 10b are different from each other in the wavelength band of the light to be passed in order to select the light having the optimal wavelength for sorting the objects to be sorted. The light passing through the filter 10a is filtered by the optical sensor 11a. The light that has passed through the filter 10b is received by the optical sensor 11b.

The light received by the optical sensors 11 a and 11 b is photoelectrically converted into an electric signal proportional to the intensity of the light, and is provided to the selection switch 12. The selection switch 12 selects either an electric signal to be input from the pair of the filter 10a and the optical sensor 11a or an electric signal from the pair of the filter 10b and the optical sensor 11b, and outputs the selected electric signal. It is given to the variable gain amplifier 13. The variable amplifier 13 amplifies the input electric signal with the set gain and supplies the amplified electric signal to one input terminal of the comparator 14. A reference voltage is applied to the other input terminal of the comparator 14. The reference voltage is compared with the voltage of an electric signal, and a signal for judging the quality of the object to be sorted is supplied to the air gun controller 15. The air gun controller 15 operates the air gun 16 at a set timing and for a set time when a signal indicating a defect of the sorting object is given. During operation, the air gun 16 ejects air to remove defective sorting objects flowing from the observation unit.

When the sorting operation of the sorting object is performed by the present color sorting machine configured as described above, the operator operates the setting switch 22 to select sorting reference value data corresponding to the current sorting material of the sorting object. Set. Then, the control unit 21 changes the set value of each sorting function element according to the set sorting reference value data. That is, the control unit 21 sends digital data specifying brightness to the D / A converter 17, and an analog voltage corresponding to the digital data is applied to the light source 14 to adjust the brightness of the background. The control unit 21 sends, for example, data specifying the filter 10a to the output boat 18, and receives a signal from the output boat 18 by selecting the selection switch 12 to the filter 10a side and receiving only light of an appropriate wavelength. To do it. Also, the control unit 21 sends digital data to the variable gain amplifier 13 and sets the gain of the amplifier 13 to a value that matches the selection criteria of the currently selected raw material. Further, the control unit 21 sends digital data to the D / A converter 19, and an analog reference voltage corresponding to the digital data is applied to the comparator 14 and adjusted to a reference voltage value suitable for the currently selected raw material. It is. Further, the control unit 21 sends digital data to the air gun controller 15 and sets the operation timing and operation time of the air gun 16 output from the controller 15 to values that match the sorting raw materials of the objects to be sorted. Further, the control unit 21 sends digital data to the vibration intensity controller 20 and sets a signal representing the vibration intensity output from the vibration intensity controller 20 to the vibration feeder 2 to a value that matches the sorting material of the sorting object. I do. As described above, after each sorting function element is automatically set to a value according to the current sorting material of the sorting object, the sorting operation for the sorting object is started.

The above-mentioned color sorter is provided with a sensor for detecting a current operating state or a failure state of the color sorter at a required position of a component. For example, in addition to the sensor 2a for detecting the vibration intensity of the vibration feeder 2, the sensors 4a, 6a, 7a for detecting the lighting or overload of the light sources 4, 6, 7 and the sensor 16a for detecting the air pressure of the air gun 16, A variety of sensors (not shown) are provided to indicate a failure condition when the mechanical and electrical operations of the color sorter become abnormal.

FIG. 2 shows a main system configuration diagram of the color sorter remote management device. The portion shown on the left side of the dotted line in the figure is provided in the above-described color sorter A. The color sorter A and the remote control device B are connected by a communication line. The remote control device B can be provided in the same factory as the color sorter A or in a service room of a manufacturer far from the user of the color sorter A. Each sort reference value data (set data) currently set in the color sorter is sent to the buffer memory 31. The control device (CPU) 32 controls the writing / reading operation of the buffer memory 31 and instructs the sampling device 33 to periodically sample a sensor group 34 for detecting the current operation state of the color sorter, and to detect the detection. The signal is stored in the buffer memory 31. When a failure state of the color sorter is detected or identified, the failure signal is written to the buffer memory 31. The buffer memory 31 is connected to a line device 35, and the line device 35 is connected to a communication line. The line device 35 transmits and receives communication between the remote control device B and the color sorter A, and includes a modem or the like. The control device 32 receives the setting data, the detection signal, and the transmission request of the failure state sent from the remote control device B, reads the corresponding signal or setting data from the buffer memory 31, and performs remote control via the line device 35. Send to device. Further, the control device 32 temporarily writes the setting update data for updating the current setting data of the selection reference value of the selection function element, which is sent from the remote control device B, to the buffer memory 31. The control is performed to read the selection reference value of the selection function element to be performed and reset the current setting data of the corresponding selection function element to the setting update data. Note that the control device 32 may transmit each of the setting data, the detection signal, and the failure state signal irrespective of the reception of the transmission request.

The remote control device B generally includes display, input, and printing devices provided in a computer, and is connected to one or more color sorters via a communication line. The remote control device B is permanently installed by an operator who is proficient in the color sorter, analyzes the setting data, detection signals, and failure status signals sent from the color sorter, and provides appropriate advice to the user in advance. give. When it is determined that the setting data is inappropriate, the setting update data is transmitted to the corresponding color sorter.

[0018]

[Effect of the invention]

 This color sorter remote management device can monitor the setting data of the sorting reference value of the current sorting function element of the color sorter from a distance and reset it to an appropriate reference value. From the complexity of monitoring by the user.

Further, since the color sorter remote management device can acquire the detection signal from the sensor at a remote place, it can advise the user by taking measures before an inconvenience occurs.

Further, since the present color sorter remote management device can immediately know the failure state in a remote place, it is possible to promptly respond to the user.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main configuration diagram illustrating a color sorter used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a color sorter remote management device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Buffer memory 32 Control device (CPU) 33 Sampling device 34 Sensor group 35 Line device

Claims (5)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A color for setting a sorting reference value of a sorting function element, which is an element for sorting an object to be sorted such as cereals, and identifying whether the object to be sorted such as cereals is acceptable according to the set sorting reference value. A selection reference remote management device including a selection device, a remote control device connected to the color selection device via a communication line, means for monitoring and storing setting data of the selection reference value, and the remote control device A transmitting / receiving device that transmits the setting data to the remote control device and receives setting update data sent from the remote control device; and a control that resets a selection reference value of a selection function element corresponding to the setting update data to a value of the setting update data. A circuit for controlling the color sorter remotely. 2. The color sorter remote management device according to claim 1, further comprising detection means for detecting a failure state of the color sorter, wherein the control circuit transmits a failure detection signal to the remote control device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring and storing the configuration data includes a buffer memory, wherein the buffer memory stores the configuration data and the configuration update data.
Or the remote control device for a color sorter according to 2. 4. A color for setting a sorting reference value of a sorting function element, which is an element for sorting an object to be sorted such as cereals, and for determining whether or not an object to be sorted such as grains is selected according to the set sorting reference value. A sorter, a sorting reference remote management device including a remote control device connected to the color sorter via a communication line, a detecting unit for detecting a state of the color sorter, and a detected status signal. And a transmitting device for transmitting to the remote control device. 5. The detection means includes a sampling device, and the sampling device samples a detection signal of a sensor provided in the color sorter at predetermined time intervals, and stores the sampled signal in a buffer memory. 2. A color sorter remote management device according to 1.